I know the title sounds very contradicting, two very different scopes...

Here is my situation. We used to have original SS 10x42 but sold it after we bought the HD version last year when it first came out. On a good day with no wind, my dad has been able to do 1/2-3/4 MoA consistently with this HD scope out to 700 yards with 168gr A-MAX .308 handloads using his Rem 700 police. To say we are impressed with this 10x HD scope would be an understatement. I can clearly see bullet marks at a steel target at that distance with zero problem. Someone on this forum told me to never trade for more magnification for less clarity and he couldn't have been more right.

Recently I bought an 18" SPR-ish upper for AR15 from BCM. I was leaning towards SS 1-4x HD after such a positive experience with new HD glass these SS scopes are sporting. However, now my father says he thinks he can squeeze out some more accuracy out of his Remington 700 with more magnification. He is also trying to shoot at 6" gongs at 6-700 yards. While 10x HD is very good scope, 6" gong at 700 yards is a bit small with 10x...

He says he will give me a very good deal on the 10x HD for my 18" upper if he buys 5-20x, but I think a fixed 10x scope might be too much for an 18" AR15. This 10x HD model has the original mil-dot reticle.

So, here is my question. At 700 yards, how much is that 20x magnification going to help vs. 10x HD? (Our range only goes out to 700 yards so we don't have to worry about anything more than that. We might get a couple of chances to shoot out to 1000 yards but probably not.) I understand both 10x and 5-20x scopes have HD glass, so I'm guessing it is toss-up between the two as far as clarity is concerned? My dad doesn't hunt or shoot at night so illumination is nice to have but not a requirement.

My opinion to him was that he is already getting close to what the rifle could do at that distance, and I wasn't sure how much more accurate he would get with more magnification.

For myself, I would like to go with medium power optic such as 2-8x but I'm not sure if I want to buy Leupold MR/T over SS 1-4x after what low power optic with high clarity can do to high power magnification scope with less quality glass.

Read the thread I just started on the 3-9 SS. I own two and love them. The 1-4 is a solid upper but human torsos get small at 400 and 500 yards. I just did this so I have some experience. If you are putting the scope on an AR platform and wont need long range all the time get the SWFA/Bobro forward positioning quick detach mount and put either the 5-20 or 3-9 on it. If you intend to do both CQB and long range I recommend the 1-4 but, getting out past 500 is gonna suck. The targets get small! At least for me they do. Leopold makes a 1.5 to 8 and Vortex makes one similar too. All I can positively say is that the SS series scopes are great values for the cost. Chris

Tell him to get you the SS 3-9x with the rest of the money and he still keeps $160 in pocket. He could trade in the SS 10x HD as well ($550-650 trade value?) If he does the trade then you would both have nice new scopes that suit your specific rifles for half the price of one 5-20x

Unless one or both of you are going to do 1,000 yard competitions, I think the two lower priced scopes make much more sense than a $1,000+ 20x scope.

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be"

"Every part of life comes into focus just as you are about to pull the trigger."

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